A power operated rotary knife including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body includes an outer wall including an arcuate surface having an upper region extending from a first upper end portion to a second intermediate portion and a lower region extending from the second intermediate portion to a third lower end portion. A plurality of gear teeth extend downwardly from the upper end of the body, each of the plurality of gear teeth including an outer peripheral face forming a portion of the upper region of the arcuate surface of the outer wall. The body outer wall includes a bearing surface having a lower bearing face in the lower region of the arcuate surface and an upper hearing face in the upper region of the arcuate surface.

The invention relates to a tool for manual or especially automatic removal of tenderloins from half-carcasses of slaughtered animals. The tool comprises a circular knife blade, a blade housing supporting the knife blade, and a movable knife blade protector. The tool is connected to a motor capable of driving the knife blade. A tenderloin is partly cut free with the knife, the knife blade protector is activated to protect the knife blade and the tool is used to pull the tenderloin free from the half-carcass without damaging the tenderloin with the knife. The tool can be arranged on a robot and can be used for automatic removal of tenderloins from half-carcasses at slaughterhouses.

A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and a cam mechanism for changing a blade housing diameter between blade supporting and blade changing positions. The split blade housing includes an annular blade support section, a mounting section and a split extending through the mounting section and an inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall. The split includes a radial split section and an angled split section adjacent the inner wall. The mounting section includes first and second body portions on opposite sides of the split. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate. The cam member is rotatable between closed and open positions to change the blade housing diameter.

The safety system (1) for a machine equipped with a moving organ (21) comprises: a first processing unit (4) associated with the moving organ (21), configured to receive signals and comprising a command module (41) configured to alter the operation of the organ (21) itself, upon receiving an alarm signal; gloves (5) that can be worn by an operator (3); and a second processing unit (6), associated with gloves (5) and configured to transmit signals to the first unit. Each glove (5) comprises an element (51) for conducting signals, connected to the second unit (6) and crossing at least a portion of the palm and/or fingers and/or the edge zone opposite the thumb. The system (1) comprises a device for generating a safety signal connected to the conducting element (51) and the second processing unit (6) comprises a first control module (63) configured to detect an interruption of the transmission of the safety signal. The second processing unit (6) comprises an alarm module (64), subjected to the first control module (63) and able to generate an alarm signal, upon verifying the interruption of the safety signal.

A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.

An air pressure regulator for a dehider includes a valve to open and close the flow of pressurized air in an air inlet, a first spring urging the valve in the direction of air flow through the inlet to close the valve, a plunger operable to move the valve from a closed to an open position against the direction of air flow, a piston connected to the valve exposed to the air flow, and a second spring between the piston and the plunger. Upon depressing the plunger, the second spring urges the piston to open the valve against the air flow direction to permit pressurized air to flow through the regulator. The maximum allowable air pressure through the regulator is determined by spring forces of the first and second springs and resistance of the piston to the flow of air through the valve.

An air pressure regulator for a dehider includes a valve to open and close the flow of pressurized air in an air inlet, a first spring urging the valve in the direction of air flow through the inlet to close the valve, a plunger operable to move the valve from a closed to an open position against the direction of air flow, a piston connected to the valve exposed to the air flow, and a second spring between the piston and the plunger. Upon depressing the plunger, the second spring urges the piston to open the valve against the air flow direction to permit pressurized air to flow through the regulator. The maximum allowable air pressure through the regulator is determined by spring forces of the first and second springs and resistance of the piston to the flow of air through the valve.

An air pressure regulator for a dehider includes a valve to open and close the flow of pressurized air in an air inlet, a first spring urging the valve in the direction of air flow through the inlet to close the valve, a plunger operable to move the valve from a closed to an open position against the direction of air flow, a piston connected to the valve exposed to the air flow, and a second spring between the piston and the plunger. Upon depressing the plunger, the second spring urges the piston to open the valve against the air flow direction to permit pressurized air to flow through the regulator. The maximum allowable air pressure through the regulator is determined by spring forces of the first and second springs and resistance of the piston to the flow of air through the valve.

An air pressure regulator for a dehider includes a valve to open and close the flow of pressurized air in an air inlet, a first spring urging the valve in the direction of air flow through the inlet to close the valve, a plunger operable to move the valve from a closed to an open position against the direction of air flow, a piston connected to the valve exposed to the air flow, and a second spring between the piston and the plunger. Upon depressing the plunger, the second spring urges the piston to open the valve against the air flow direction to permit pressurized air to flow through the regulator. The maximum allowable air pressure through the regulator is determined by spring forces of the first and second springs and resistance of the piston to the flow of air through the valve.

A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.